Fertilizers and pesticides are widely overused throughout the world, especially in the United States. Fertilizers and Pesticides are used on golf courses, large farms, and household lawns, and just about any other area of crops that humans want to grow better.
Fertilizers are used to increase the harvest or make your grass grow better. The average fertilizer has nitrates and phosphorus, which are both harmful to the enviroment. Rain and sprinklers can run these chemicals into waterways, and they always make their way to the ocean. When in the ocean, these chemicals create algea blooms which starve the fish of oxygen and kill them.
Pesticides are used to kill certain organisms, whether it be rodents or insects or weeds, so that they don't eat the crops, which would decrease production levels. These pesticides are made of dangerous chemicals that can poison not only humans, but they can kill things that weren't intended to be killed.
A chemical used for killing pests, esp insects and rodents.
(Those pests are killed because they destroy certain plant life that humans want to look good or grow more of)
Different kinds- There are many different types of pesticides, and all are used for killing certain organisms to increase crop harvests.
About Pesticides: Although pesticides are useful in the fact that they can dramatically increase a farm's production rate (by killing weeds that would take of the crop) or in everyday situations like on lawns making the grass grow better, many pesticides are harmful to humans, especially to pregnant women. The food from the crops sprayed with pesticide usually contain pesticides. Pesticides are commonly used on farms, lawns, and golf courses. A way to get rid of a little bit of pesticide is by boiling your food. People that benefit from pesticide use are all those who eat the food from such farms. The people who are harmed by the pesticides are those that apply the pesticides and live near said farms because they are very likely to be contaminated. People who are drinking water contaminated from the pesticides also are harmed because of the dangerous substances in the pesticide. There are many symptoms of pesticide poisoning listed at: http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/safety/incaseof.htm
Facts about pesticides at: http://tiki.oneworld.net/pollution/poisonings.html
Pros:
Kills pests (rodents, insects, weeds, and fungi), which allows an increase in crop production
Primary benefits are direct gains from the use of pesticides
secondary benefits are effects that are more long-term
The economy for pesticides produces atleast a 50 billion dollar business
chemicals are easy to obtain and fast acting
the amount of harmful insects that can cause sickness and desease are decreased by applying pesticide use
Cons:
Can cause cancer
Can affect the nervous system in a harmful way
Can damage hormone or endocrine system
Potential toxicity to humans and other animals --According to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, 9 of the 12 most dangerous and
According to the World Health Organization, about 3
million people per year obtain deathly pesticide poisoning
Birth defects
According to the PARC an estimated 10,000 farmers
a year are poisoned by indiscriminate use of pesticides when growing plants such as cotton.
In 1984 in Bhopal,India, a pesticide-production plant exploded and released toxic fumes throughout the area of India, killing an estimated 2,000 people. It is estimated that almost 200,000 people's health were affected in some way. Some examples of possible illness's are coughing or having trouble breathing, or even breakdown of the central nervous system over a long period of time. One disaster led to another, and soon flocks of people were fleeing the visible fumes, although many didn't make it. Read more about it at: Pesticide Plant Explosion in 1984
In the Punjab state in India, many villagers from farming towns board a train known as the "Cancer Train". Scientists have found that people in the farming villages that use pesticide
have a growing number of people with cancer because of their use of pesticides. Some have blood cancer while others have different varieties of cancer. The carcinogens in the pesticide are causing these cases of cancer. Although farming has gone well, the health of the farmers and the people rapidly are becoming worse and worse. Read more about it at: Punjab State cancer increase.
Good ways to help these problems:
Improve the pesticides to where it is not harmful to humans and animals (organic pesticide(s))
Boil all of your vegetables, fruit, and any other food products that are sprayed with pesticides to get ride of some chemicals. Pesticide Video Link
If I applying pesticides, what type of gear should I wear?
Wear clothes that cover all of your skin
Goggles
Respirator
Rubber gloves
How long does it take for pesticide to spread?
There are several factors of the rate of the spread of pesticides. When pesticides are in the air it may take a matter of hours to spread great distances, while if it were going through the ground it may take several years, and it
any substance, such as manure or a mixture of nitrates, added to soil or water to increase its productivity
2.
an object or organism such as an insect that fertilizes an animal or plant
Different kinds- There are several different types of fertilizers, and all are used for increasing productivity. examples of different kinds of fertilizers include: DAP, MOP, Urea and Rock Phosphate (which appear to be the most common).
Pros:
Improve soil life
May prove a large depository for excess carbon dioxide
Allows for more food to be produced in the same amount of space
Improves said soil nutrition
Prevents soil erosion
Roots are consistently taught to grow healthier and stronger over time
Cons:
Fertilizers run into the water, causing high nitrogen levels which can kill marine life because algea is created. The algea depletes oxygen levels, starving marine life of oxygen.
Eutrophication explain these 5 points
Blue Baby Syndrome
Soil acidification
Persistant organic pollutants
Increased pest fitness
Examples of Fertilizer Contamintation
In California in the year 2008 esearchers from Calforinia University discovered taht 96% of nitrate contamination in Califorinia's groundwater originated from farms in Salinas Valley and Tulare Lake. Most of the nitrate orginated from the fertilizers used on the farms. About 254,000 people were at risk from nitrate contamination. Learn more abouth Calfornia's water contamination at: http://www.ewg.org/release/california-drinking-water-pollution-traced-fertilizers-and-animal-waste.
Use phosphorus-free fertilizer and only organic fertilizer. Phosphorus, when in water, immediately makes algea blooms much larger, starving fish of oxygen.
Apply fertiliizer in the correct seasons to reduce runoff into water sources. Also, if you know it is going to rain, don't apply fertilizer because it will just get swept away into waterways. Not only does that waste money spent on fertilizer, but it pollutes water.
Test your soil first to see if it even needs fertilization.
Read labels on your fertilizer product to know the correct amount of fertilizer that needs to be applied.
Dispose of extra fertilizers at your local hazerdous waste center.
Leave grass clippings on the ground. They may naturally fertilize the grass!
The United States is one of the biggest users of fertilizers especially in agriculture.
Fertilizers may take years to appear in water sources, but the contamination
can spread across great distances.
An organic or inorganic material of synthetic or natural origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. They are essential for high-yield harvest. Organic fertilizers tend to be more healthy than inorganic fertilizers. Fertilizers tend to have more nutrients and chemicals than what a plant needs, so the excess nutrients and chemicals seep into the ground and contaminate the water.
Yes, excessive fertilizing can cause plants to burn or stunt plant growth.
It's always better to under-fertilize your plants rather than fertilizing too much.
-What is soil testing and why is this important to to taking care of my plants?
soil testing is when you send a sample of your lawn to a science lab to be tested for what amount of nutrients are currently existent in/on your lawn.
These test results are also used for suggestions for the future when it comes to improving the quantity of for example: pH, phosphorus, and potassium) in order to keep your lawn healthy!
By: Andrew, Cameron, Isabella, and Charlie
Introduction:
Fertilizers and pesticides are widely overused throughout the world, especially in the United States. Fertilizers and Pesticides are used on golf courses, large farms, and household lawns, and just about any other area of crops that humans want to grow better.
Fertilizers are used to increase the harvest or make your grass grow better. The average fertilizer has nitrates and phosphorus, which are both harmful to the enviroment. Rain and sprinklers can run these chemicals into waterways, and they always make their way to the ocean. When in the ocean, these chemicals create algea blooms which starve the fish of oxygen and kill them.
Pesticides are used to kill certain organisms, whether it be rodents or insects or weeds, so that they don't eat the crops, which would decrease production levels. These pesticides are made of dangerous chemicals that can poison not only humans, but they can kill things that weren't intended to be killed.
Table of Contents
1. Pesticides
-Definition
-About Pesticides
-Pros
-Cons
-Examples of Contamination
2. Fertilizers
-Definition
-About Pesticides
-Pros
-Examples of Contamination-Cons
3. Articles About Pesticides and Fertilizers
Picture's Article About Dangerous Food Contamination
Pesticides
Definition-
A chemical used for killing pests, esp insects and rodents.(Those pests are killed because they destroy certain plant life that humans want to look good or grow more of)
Different kinds- There are many different types of pesticides, and all are used for killing certain organisms to increase crop harvests.
About Pesticides:
Although pesticides are useful in the fact that they can dramatically increase a farm's production rate (by killing weeds that would take of the crop) or in everyday situations like on lawns making the grass grow better, many pesticides are harmful to humans, especially to pregnant women. The food from the crops sprayed with pesticide usually contain pesticides. Pesticides are commonly used on farms, lawns, and golf courses. A way to get rid of a little bit of pesticide is by boiling your food. People that benefit from pesticide use are all those who eat the food from such farms. The people who are harmed by the pesticides are those that apply the pesticides and live near said farms because they are very likely to be contaminated. People who are drinking water contaminated from the pesticides also are harmed because of the dangerous substances in the pesticide. There are many symptoms of pesticide poisoning listed at: http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/safety/incaseof.htm
Facts about pesticides at: http://tiki.oneworld.net/pollution/poisonings.html
Pros:
Cons:
- Can cause cancer
- Can affect the nervous system in a harmful way
- Can damage hormone or endocrine system
- Potential toxicity to humans and other animals
persistent organic chemicalsare pesticides.--According to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, 9 of the 12 most dangerous and
- According to the World Health Organization, about 3
million people per year obtain deathly pesticide poisoning- Birth defects
- According to the PARC an estimated 10,000 farmers
a year are poisoned by indiscriminate use of pesticides whengrowing plants such as cotton.
In 1984 in Bhopal,India, a pesticide-production plant exploded and released toxic fumes throughout the area of India, killing an estimated 2,000 people. It is estimated that almost 200,000 people's health were affected in some way. Some examples of possible illness's are coughing or having trouble breathing, or even breakdown of the central nervous system over a long period of time. One disaster led to another, and soon flocks of people were fleeing the visible fumes, although many didn't make it. Read more about it at: Pesticide Plant Explosion in 1984
In the Punjab state in India, many villagers from farming towns board a train known as the "Cancer Train". Scientists have found that people in the farming villages that use pesticide
have a growing number of people with cancer because of their use of pesticides. Some have blood cancer while others have different varieties of cancer. The carcinogens in the pesticide are causing these cases of cancer. Although farming has gone well, the health of the farmers and the people rapidly are becoming worse and worse. Read more about it at: Punjab State cancer increase.
Good ways to help these problems:
The Annual U.S. Cost from Pesticide Use
Below are the primary and secondary benefits from pesticides
Primary benefits
1. Controlling pests and plant disease vectors- Improved crop/livestock yields
- Improved crop/livestock quality
- Invasive species controlled
2. Controlling human/livestock disease vectors and nuisance organisms- Human lives saved and suffering reduced
- Animal lives saved and suffering reduced
- Diseases contained geographically
3. Prevent of control organisms that harm other human activities and structuresSecondary benefits
1. Community benefits- Farm and agribusiness revenues
- Nutrition and health improved
- Food safety and security
2. National benefits- Workforce productivity increased
- Increased export revenues
- National agriculture economy
3. Global benefitsVideo All About Pesticides
Pesticide Cycle
http://www.ecifm.rdg.ac.uk/pesticides.htm (Also includes interesting statistics on the area of land which is sprayed with pesticides each year)
Questions?
- If I applying pesticides, what type of gear should I wear?
- Wear clothes that cover all of your skin
- Goggles
- Respirator
- Rubber gloves
- How long does it take for pesticide to spread?
- There are several factors of the rate of the spread of pesticides. When pesticides are in the air it may take a matter of hours to spread great distances, while if it were going through the ground it may take several years, and it
may depend on how fast the groundwater is flowing. http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/dept/comguide/drift_excerpt.pdfFertilizers:
Definition-
Different kinds- There are several different types of fertilizers, and all are used for increasing productivity. examples of different kinds of fertilizers include: DAP, MOP, Urea and Rock Phosphate (which appear to be the most common).
Pros:
Cons:
Examples of Fertilizer Contamintation
In California in the year 2008 esearchers from Calforinia University discovered taht 96% of nitrate contamination in Califorinia's groundwater originated from farms in Salinas Valley and Tulare Lake. Most of the nitrate orginated from the fertilizers used on the farms. About 254,000 people were at risk from nitrate contamination. Learn more abouth Calfornia's water contamination at: http://www.ewg.org/release/california-drinking-water-pollution-traced-fertilizers-and-animal-waste.
Good ways to help these problems:
Fertilizer Video Link
The United States is one of the biggest users of fertilizers especially in agriculture.
Fertilizers may take years to appear in water sources, but the contamination
can spread across great distances.
Fertilizer Cycle
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/pesticidesgw.html
Video of Inorganic Vs. Organic Fertilizers
About Fertilizer
An organic or inorganic material of synthetic or natural origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. They are essential for high-yield harvest.
Organic fertilizers tend to be more healthy than inorganic fertilizers. Fertilizers tend to have more nutrients and chemicals than what a plant needs, so the excess nutrients and chemicals seep into the ground and contaminate the water.
Estimated Growth in Fertilizer Use, 1960-2020
102-0403094757-Plane-Spraying-Pesticide.jpg
Picture of Plane Spraying Pesticides
Questions?
(commonly asked)
-Can you fertilize too much?
Yes, excessive fertilizing can cause plants to burn or stunt plant growth.
-What is soil testing and why is this important to to taking care of my plants?
- soil testing is when you send a sample of your lawn to a science lab to be tested for what amount of nutrients are currently existent in/on your lawn.
- These test results are also used for suggestions for the future when it comes to improving the quantity of for example: pH, phosphorus, and potassium) in order to keep your lawn healthy!
According to:http://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2006/may/071201.htm
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Articles About Pesticides and Fertilizers
A very good article by Scientific American about fertilizer run-off into the oceans, causing dead-zones, and many facts about fertilizers and how they affect the enviroment: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=fertilizer-runoff-overwhelms-streams#commentA good article about what pesticides are and how you should use them:
http://home.howstuffworks.com/lawn-problems3.htm
About Fertilizers and Pesticides: http://www.kpud.org/water/reference/docs/kc_groundwater/fertpest.pdf
An article about the sources of pesticide contamination http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1225/html/sources.html.
A good article about how fertilizers work and what they contain. http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/soilfert/eb64w.htm
A good article about how to safely and efficiently use fertilizers so that you don't harm the enviroment:
http://www.lhwmp.org/home/GSGS/soil_labels.aspx